Capitol Reef gets its name from two geological curiosities of the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile bulge in the earth’s crust containing eroded pockets that catch water after each rainfall. Early settlers thought that the mountains, which dominate the landscape of the national park, resembled a coral reef. One of the white sandstone outcroppings, meanwhile, Capitol Dome, resembles that monument in our nation’s capital.

Inside the park, influences of Mormon pioneer settlers remain in and around the little town of Fruita: a barn, a farmhouse, rock fences, an1896 one-room schoolhouse, and acres of fruit orchards. These groves provide beautiful displays of blossoms in the spring, shade during the hot summer months, and fruit in the late summer and fall.

Capitol Reef has a fine paved road, but no trip can be complete without at least one hike. Walking to Hickman Bridge or through Capitol Gorge and Grand Wash helps visitors appreciate the fascinating geology of the park’s water pockets.